A new clinic in Cortez is offering platelet-rich plasma injections and other regenerative treatments – and says it’s trying to do so at lower prices than regional competitors.
Cortez Regenerative Health, founded by Justin Ritter, a nurse, opened the one-man show in August at 2423 E. Main St. Ritter, who has worked in emergency medicine at the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock since 2011, said he opened the practice to bring Cortez options that previously required a trip to Durango.
The clinic’s services are:
- PRP injections using a patient’s own blood components to target joint pain, back pain and some sports-related injuries, as well as for hair restoration and certain sexual-health concerns.
- Microneedling with PRP for skin rejuvenation and treatment of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Bioidentical hormone replacement pellets to help address age-related hormone decline, which Ritter said can affect energy, joint pain and other health issues.
PRP involves drawing a patient’s blood, spinning it to concentrate the platelets – the part that signals the body to repair itself – and injecting it into the injured areas or areas with pain. Ritter described it as “harnessing the body’s own ability to heal.”
PRP injections are used in varied scenarios that require healing in orthopedic injuries to certain cosmetic treatments and are generally safe, according to Johns Hopkins medicine. These treatments are common in pro sports to help elite athletes recover.
Ritter’s PRP injections start around $600 per injection. Microneedling treatments begin at $200 without PRP and $400 with it. Hormone-replacement pellet therapy typically costs $1,000-$1,500 per year. Most treatments are not covered by insurance.
